novelraw Chapter 66: Tremendous Loss
Chapter 66: Tremendous Loss
The command center of the Bionic Corp had turned into a tomb-like silence, with officers staring at their monitors, their faces pale as they processed the calamity that had befallen their comrades. The static on the screens was like the hiss of death, confirming the obliteration of the level 2 guards.
An officer’s voice broke the silence, his statement sending a ripple of dread through the room. "All level 2 guards are down," he stammered, his voice shaking with the collision of fear and duty. "There are... no survivors."
Beta’s reaction was visceral; his fists clenched so tight that his knuckles turned white, his muscles taut with barely restrained rage. "Dead," he repeated, the word coming out as a growl. He stood immobile, a statue of fury, as the impact of the news washed over him. The thought that Zorvax had outmaneuvered and outclassed them was a cold, hard lump in his stomach.
Memories of the confrontation with Zorvax flashed before his eyes—the mockery, the evasion, and now this massacre. "He was toying with us," Beta whispered, his voice laced with a cocktail of emotions. His face, usually a mask of stoic control, now betrayed a twitch of anger in his clenched jaw and the slight narrowing of his eyes.
Beta stood rigid as the report cut through the thick tension of the room. "Sir, we’re detecting a massive thermal spike from the level 3 zombie’s location!" an officer announced, the pitch of his voice rising with the urgency of the news.
"Zoom in on that area, now!" Beta’s command shot out like a bullet, echoing off the walls of the command center.
The officers’ hands moved with a frantic energy, keystrokes tapping out a rapid staccato as they worked to obey Beta’s order. The screens flickered, zooming in on the source of the thermal spike. What appeared was a scene of destruction — the level 3 zombie, engulfed in a conflagration that seemed to consume everything around it.
As the flames died down, an eerie silence fell over the room. The feed now showed the aftermath — the once formidable zombie lay motionless, its head brutally split in two. The sight was a stark reminder of the ferocity of their unseen enemy.
Beta’s hands clenched into fists, the knuckles white with the force of his grip. His jaw tightened, muscles twitching with barely suppressed rage. "Damn it," he growled under his breath, his voice a low, dangerous timbre. This was a calamity he hadn’t predicted, a twist in their plans that could set them back immeasurably.
The room held its breath, the officers watching their leader for guidance, their expressions a mix of shock and apprehension. Beta’s eyes, sharp as flint, reflected the images on the screen, and for a moment, the weight of responsibility seemed to bow his shoulders.
"Scan the vicinity for any other individuals," Beta’s command was firm, but his voice betrayed the undercurrent of desperation for a win amidst the night’s losses.
The officers’ fingers flew over their keyboards, their focus absolute as they pored over the data streaming onto their screens. Their faces, illuminated by the soft glow of monitors, were etched with concentration and the faintest trace of hope.
"No sign of anyone, sir. They’ve vanished," one officer finally reported, his voice a mixture of disappointment and awe.
Beta’s frustration boiled over. "Vanished?" he echoed, his tone rising. He stood rigid, the muscles in his jaw working as he fought to maintain composure. "How can he just vanish with a level 3 on the ground?" His hands slammed down onto the console, the impact echoing in the tense room.
"Retrieve what’s left of that level 3," Beta ordered, his voice strained with the effort to remain controlled. "Make sure we get everything. Every part could be crucial for our research."
The officers jumped to action, issuing the commands to the retrieval teams. Beta turned from the screen, his back a rigid line of defeat and determination. The once steady hum of the command center now seemed to buzz with a frenzied pitch, mirroring the chaos of his thoughts.
As he walked away from the main console, his footsteps were heavy, each step a testament to the weight of his responsibility. He paused, his hand lingering on the back of a chair, gripping it tightly enough to whiten his knuckles.
"Sir, the retrieval team is on site," an officer called out, his voice pulling Beta back to the moment.
Beta took a deep breath, steeling himself as he turned back to the room. "Good," he replied, his voice regaining some of its usual command. "I want continuous updates. Anything out of the ordinary, I want to know immediately."
His order to retrieve the remains of the level 3 zombie had been given with a firm resolve, and it echoed across the room, met with a synchronized chorus of "Yes, sir!" from the officers.
As he watched the team spring into action, his gaze lingered on each officer, acknowledging their commitment and the trust they placed in his command. With the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders, he turned on his heel, his movements precise and deliberate. The door to the command center slid shut behind him with a soft hiss, sealing him off from the chaos within.
Alone in the corridor, Beta’s stoic facade began to crack. The rigid line of his shoulders sagged ever so slightly, and his steps slowed as he processed the evening’s catastrophic events. He made his way to his private quarters, the silence of the hallway a stark contrast to the cacophony he’d left behind.
Once inside the Spartan room that served as his personal space, Beta allowed himself a moment to lean heavily against the door. His eyes closed briefly, a deep exhale escaping his lips as he gathered his thoughts.
He moved to his desk, a sparse piece of furniture that held nothing but the most essential items. His hands, usually so steady, betrayed a faint tremor as he activated his communication device. The device hummed to life, its screen glowing softly in the dimly lit room.
"G-Gamma," he began, the usually unshakeable confidence in his voice now tinged with urgency and a hint of defeat. "I need to report something."